Brazilian Navy Marine Corps conducts high-precision drone geospatial survey on the Quitandinha River in Petrópolis

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Brazilian Navy Marine Corps geospatial survey with remotely piloted aircraft systems

Between 4 and 8 May, the Brazilian Navy Marine Corps carried out a geospatial surveying operation in the Quitandinha River area of Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, using remotely piloted aircraft systems to collect high-accuracy topographic data. The work was delivered by the Admiral Sylvio de Camargo Instruction Centre (CIASC) in partnership with the Marine Corps Technological Centre (CTecCFN), via the Marine Corps Simulation Laboratory.

Digital terrain and river-channel modelling for hydrological simulation

The core aim of the operation was to gather georeferenced information for building digital models of both the terrain and the river channel, enabling the creation of a virtual hydrological simulation environment. The resulting dataset will be used to computationally model flooding and water run-off scenarios under varying conditions of rainfall and water accumulation.

This study will make it possible to pinpoint flood-prone areas, assess the river’s hydrodynamic behaviour during critical situations, and support the development of predictive scenarios focused on risk management and emergency response. The effort has clear operational relevance in a setting shaped by the rising frequency of extreme weather events in densely populated urban areas.

The activity also helps expand the Brazilian Navy Marine Corps’ capacity to employ remotely piloted systems for reconnaissance, remote sensing, and the collection of geospatial data. Using drones shortens the time needed to obtain field information and increases analytical capability in complex or degraded environments.

Operational value and dual-use applications of drones and simulation

The project brings together remote-sensing technologies, digital terrain processing, and computer simulation, reflecting a broader trend in modern armed forces towards adopting digital tools for operational planning and decision support. At the same time, it highlights the dual-use nature of these technologies, which can be applied not only to military operations but also to civil defence missions, environmental monitoring, crisis management, and support to the public during disasters.

Building virtual simulation environments also enables predictive assessment of different hydrological scenarios, helping refine evacuation protocols, improve logistics planning, and guide the positioning of assets in rapid-response operations. Digital modelling of the operational environment is increasingly becoming an efficiency multiplier in complex missions.

Beyond environmental use cases, the experience gained in operating remotely piloted aircraft and in digital modelling can be applied to military tasks involving terrain analysis, tactical reconnaissance, amphibious planning, and the monitoring of operational areas. Bringing these capabilities together raises situational awareness and reduces reliance on conventional survey methods.

The operation conducted by CIASC and CTecCFN demonstrates the Brazilian Navy Marine Corps’ gradual progress in adopting capabilities linked to data-centric warfare, remote sensing, and virtual simulation. In an operational environment that increasingly depends on fast information capture and processing, dual-use tools such as drones and digital modelling systems are taking on a strategic role both for military purposes and for applications of public interest and environmental security.